Iran Offers Assistance to Japanese Ships Navigating Strait of Hormuz Amid Tensions

Kathmandu. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that Iran is ready to help Japanese ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Japan relies on the Middle East for crude oil imports, the majority of which is supplied by passing through the Strait of Hormuz, located in the Gulf.

Following an America-Israeli attack, Iran closed the 'Strait of Hormuz', forcing countries dependent on this route for shipping to incur alternative route and storage costs.

In a telephone interview with Kyodo News, Araghchi denied the strait was closed and emphasized that countries attacking Iran would face sanctions. Assistance was offered to others.

“We have not closed this strait. From our perspective, the strait is open,” Araghchi said in the interview posted on his Telegram channel on Saturday.

“It is only closed for the ships of our enemies, the countries that attack us. Ships from other countries can pass through the strait,”

He stated that Iran is prepared to ensure a safe passage for Japan.

“They need to contact us so we can discuss how this transit can happen,” Araghchi added.

Japan, the world's fourth-largest economy, is the fifth-largest importer of oil, 95 percent of which comes from the Middle East, and 70 percent via the Strait of Hormuz.

Tokyo stated last Monday, “Japan is starting to use its strategic oil reserves, which are the largest in the world.”

Japan has reserves equivalent to 254 days of domestic consumption under normal circumstances.

Members of the International Energy Agency agreed on March 11 to use oil reserves to mitigate price increases caused by the war in the Middle East. This is the largest such coordinated response to date.